Local heroes recognized by Red Cross

SALT LAKE CITY — All that stood between a 4-year-old girl and a 90-pound pit bull was a petite, protective mom — but that was enough.

Last June, the pit bull came charging into the backyard of a Cottonwood Heights home where Tanya Shroeder and 3- and 5-year-old children, as well as her 4-year-old neighbor. The 90 pounds of snapping teeth tore a chunk out of the young mom's side, and the dog then turned to 4-year-old Julia Hedinger. managed to slam the screen door on the dog and call for help.

Shroeder is not alone in her brave actions.

Jason Day saved a woman from her burning car, which later exploded, and then helped raise money so the single mother could afford another one.

A teacher and two chaperones managed to steer a school bus to safety after the bus driver lost consciousness.

Teenagers pulled their friend out of a pool when she had a seizure.

These are just some of the "heroes" who were honored Wednesday at the Salt Palace by the American Red Cross.

Sgt. Brady Johnson, a Green Beret, was off-duty and heading to a family picnic when he came upon an emergency situation involving a seriously injured bicyclist who had been struck by an SUV during a race. Johnson bandaged bicyclist Dave Collins' wounds with gauze, preventing him from bleeding to death from multiple broken bones in his face and a gash in his jugular that ran all the way down to his sternum.

"I didn't think of it as being a hero," Johnson said. "It's our responsibility."

Yet to Collins, who showed up with fellow bicyclists to thank Johnson for his lifesaving efforts, it was more than that.

It's exactly how Julia's mom felt when she heard what Shroeder had done to save her little girl's life.

"She's my hero," said Julia's mom, Kristin Hedinger.

Nearly 400 people showed up to appreciate the 2010 heroes, each of whom has been honored by their communities for simple actions that had big consequences.

"We're honoring heroes who have saved a life or made a difference," said American Red Cross spokeswoman Susan Thomas. "We wanted to recognize them. These are true heroes."

For more information on the winners of the 12 awards, visit utahredcross.org and click on "Heroes."

The honorees are: